Iowa Female Offender Comprehensive Reentry Initiative

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-199) provides a comprehensive response to the increasing number of people who are released from prison and jail into communities and the subsequent challenges communities face as offenders attempt to reintegrate into society. The Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative provides funding to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes for demonstration projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated. Funded demonstration projects will use validated and dynamic assessment tools to determine the risks and needs of offenders. Projects will provide offenders in prisons or jails with all necessary services to facilitate reentry into the community. In addition, the projects will develop procedures to ensure that dangerous felons are not released from prison prematurely and provide services that address treatment needs and protect communities against dangerous offenders Allowable uses of funds to enhance a successful transition include: pre-release assessment and case planning, mentoring, housing, education, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, services to enhance family reunification, job training and readiness, and post-release case management and supervision.

Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) will use their FY 2010 grant funds for a gender-specific women's holistic, intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment demonstration project entitled "Women Inspiring Sobriety and Health" (WISH). The WISH is designed to provide comprehensive, gender responsive substance abuse treatment over a 15-week period to female offenders who are subject to release within 12 months of incarceration. The demonstration project will treat 45 female offenders during each 15-week cycle. Three 15-week treatment cycles will be conducted during the year providing comprehensive substance abuse treatment to approximately 135 female offenders. DOC will conduct the WISH demonstration project in collaboration with the Des Moines Area Community College-DMACC, Iowa Workforce Development, University of Iowa, Spectrum Resources, ICADV, Iowacasa, and other local resource agencies throughout the state of Iowa.

CA/NCF